Meet the Equissage Europe Tutor- Helen Woolley

Helen Woolley was born in Cambridgeshire, UK in 1969. She graduated from the Queen Elizabeth School of Physiotherapy in 1990 and worked in the N.H.S. for many years, specialising in Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics. Helen went on to work for the army as a Chartered Physiotherapist before moving into Private Practice firstly in the UK then in Germany.

Helen’s interest in horses developed after working at an army polo stables in Germany and then at the Paderborn Equestrian Centre.On a posting to the United States she was fortunate enough to train with Mary Schreiber, qualify as an Equine Sports Massage Therapist and become a member of the International Association of Animal Massage Therapists. In 2004 Helen was invited to teach the Equissage programme under the name Equissage Europe.

She has worked at yards in Kentucky, USA; Germany; Holland and the UK, assessing and treating many types of sports horse, including polo ponies, dressage horses, racehorses and three-day-event horses.

Helen has also been the Manager the Rheindahlen and Elmpt Saddle Club and co-ordinator of the special Needs Riding Group in Rheindahlen. She is also an active member of the Riding For the Disabled Association and is a qualified Hippotherapist and member of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Riding (CPTRH). She is Regional Hippotherapist for East Region Riding for the Disabled Association and County Physiotherapist for Norfolk RDA.

Helen is a Fellow of the International Society for Animal Professionals and a member of IRVAP. She continues to develop professionally by maintaining a high level of continued professional development and further study.

Equissage Europe has successfully trained hundreds of Certified ESMT's from all over the world, who are working in all areas of the equine therapy industry.

Helen continues to practice as a Chartered Physiotherapist combining this with treating horses and teaching Equissage Europe and volunteering with the RDA.